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Shine, Endemol line up Turner Laing

Sophie Turner Laing, the former MD of content at UK satcaster BSkyB, will become CEO of the new Shine, Endemol and Core Media superindie if the merger goes ahead.

Sophie Turner Laing

Sophie Turner Laing

Turner Laing, who left Sky in May, will take the helm at the combined group, which is set to be the world’s biggest independent production company working in scripted and non-scripted TV.

Endemol CEO Just Spee and Shine Group CEO Alex Mahon will remain in their roles and help Turner Laing with the transition of the merger, but are expected to leave once regulatory matters are cleared. The future of Endemol president Tim Hincks remains unclear.

Just Spee

Just Spee

Core Media Group president Marc Graboff left the company last month as 21st Century Fox and Apollo hold ongoing talks to form the superindie.

A spokesman for 21st Century Fox and Apollo Global Management said: “Pending the parties finalising an agreement to form a joint venture comprised of Endemol, Shine Group and Core Media Group the venture partners today confirmed that Sophie Turner Laing, former managing director of content at BSkyB, would become the new venture’s CEO.

Alex Mahon

Alex Mahon

“There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will be finalised or completed.”

Turner Laing joined Sky in March 2003 from the BBC where she held a number of senior roles including acting director of TV. Having begun her career at Henson International Television, she set up Hit Entertainment with Peter Orton in 1989 and later moved to Flextech.

At Sky, she led the expansion of the satcaster’s portfolio of entertainment channels, with the launch of Sky Atlantic, Sky Living and Sky Arts. She was also behind its partnership with HBO and an increased commitment to original UK production.

Marc Graboff

Marc Graboff

21st Century Fox boss Chase Carey said earlier this month that the deal with Apollo would be completed in the “short term” as the sides tackle UK regulatory issues.

The joint venture plan was first unveiled by 21st Century Fox in May, just days before Turner Laing’s departure from BSkyB was announced.

Last month, it was revealed that Endemol North America, which is also owned by Core Media parent Apollo Global Management, will absorb the American Idol producer’s management operations, as Core Media Group’s Graboff stepped down.

Endemol North America co-CEOs Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin will have expanded roles to oversee some of Core’s operations. However, it is expected that Core and Endemol North America will remain separate companies for the time being.

In July, Simon Shaps left his role as MD of international content and production along with director of business strategy and acquisitions Maureen Kerr as Core and Apollo focused on expansion via the roll-up with Endemol and Shine.

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